Opinion

RV industry and campground job openings plus work wanted postings from people looking for opportunities to share their skills, talents and abilities in the industry. Are you looking to hire someone for your business, or are you looking for a specific job? Then send an e-mail to editor@rvdailyreport.com.

It's been said that there are two things people want more than sex and money...recognition and praise. Time and time again the one motivating factor that is at the top of most salespeople’s lists is appreciation for a job well done. It is more requested than even money.

Why don’t more Sales Managers give appreciation? Some say they don’t know how to give it. Others don’t know what to give appreciation for in the dealership. Yet others say they are too busy to give appreciation.

Stop and think about this: what real value is there to a printed magazine in today’s fast-paced business environment? Especially in the RV industry. They all look the same, they all print many of the same industry news stories, and they all chase the same people for their advertising dollars.

Now I enjoy the personal profile stories that feature some great people in our industry, but does that justify killing the trees, printing the magazines, and them having them tossed in the trash? If they all disappeared next month would you really miss them?

Banks. Financing. Floorplan. Retail Paper. Topics which are top of mind at most dealerships today. I have a pretty good idea what the dealers are thinking. But where are the banks coming from? RVDA will focus on those topics in some detail this coming October. Be sure to sign up. What can the banks possibly be thinking to rationalize some of the decisions they are making? Are they out of their minds?

The most important aspect of a successful salesperson is developing the correct mindset toward your customers. And this is not the over used phrase "The customer is always right". Actually the correct mindset I'm referring to is to always think in terms of benefits for your customers. The highly successful salesperson thinks of ways to show interest in their customers even before they come into their dealership.

Lawmakers decided on January 10, 2007 to increase the minimum wage three times in three years, from $5.15 to $5.55 per hour in 2007, to $6.55 in 2009, to $7.25 in 2009. Arguably, this was a good idea, since the minimum wage had not been increased in 10 years. But somewhere near the middle of all this the economy began its downhill slide. Now business owners are saddled with an increase in the minimum wage that is burdensome at a time when they are burdened enough

What a difference a year makes! I was quite vocal when I blogged against this program last year. But fast forward twelve months and we have a completely different industry and railing against anything that can position the RV industry in a good light really doesn’t make any sense. We are all in this business to see our dealers succeed because they are the people responsible for bringing products to the marketplace. We live and die by their success.

Lord knows there has been a litany of challenges that have forced many to close their doors, others to scale back their operations, and the rest of them fighting for the businesses they cherish and have worked so hard to preserve this past year.

“So – what are you hearing?” It’s the most common question I’m asked. I’m hearing snippets and pieces on a consistent basis that things are looking up. People ask the other question – “How are YOU doing, Chuck?” I have been saying, “Business is slow but life is good.” Even my business lately has been picking up. Maybe I’m a bit more focused on the relationships and the marketing that I was. I’m sure it’s true. It’s likely true for you. I going to start saying it this way, "Business picking up and life is GOOD!

The unofficial start of the camping season took place last weekend and as many RVers hit the road to enjoy the RV lifestyle we want to take the pulse of the industry on your first reactions now that we approach the second weekend of the season.

I’d like you to tell us your opinion of last weekend. If you are a dealer; was your lot traffic way up? If you are a campground; were most of your sites filled with happy campers? If you are a consumer; what was your impression of the RV environment after speaking with others around the campfire?

If you could talk to the people you have most admired in life, the biggest successes, the top names, you will find that they also are the biggest failures. They lost more games, struck out more times, lost more money and had more doors slammed in their faces. The difference in their lives is that they never quit.

Larry Troutt, RVDA Chairman of the Board, has penned an outstanding column in the May issue of RV Executive Today. In his column Larry presents a very logical solution to a lingering problem that raises its ugly head around this time of year – every year – for far too many years in fact. Larry presented what he likes to refer to as a modest proposal to solve, once and for all, this issue of model year introductions.

The article should be required reading for all manufacturers! He may want to call it modest, but I suspect suppliers and dealers will praise it as gutsy, on target, and an idea who’s time has come.

One of the most difficult parts of selling is prospecting/networking, or getting new customers. By far the most powerful thing you can have when approaching new people is a referral from their colleagues, friends or others they respect. The big question that comes before "selling" referrals is "getting" the referrals in the first place.

Do you spend a lot of time and energy trying to attract new customers to your dealership, hoping to pump up your bottom line? If so, you're probably missing an untapped source of sales that exists right inside your dealership - there's truth in the statement that your customer base is your most valuable asset.

There’s a revolution out there and it’s time for the RV industry to jump on board because it’s not going to go away. Your customer’s might if you don’t get your hands around the phenomenon and how it will play a major role in retaining customers and growing your business.

The generation of workers we are hiring “get it.” The students in college “get it”. And it is very important that the RV industry “get it” as they develop their strategies for the rebound and how you can deploy new technologies to be where your future customers are going to be – in cyberspace!

Think about it. Did you buy something worth more than $1000 in the last six months? Did you do your preliminary research on the web? Your prospects and customers did . . . . . . . . .

A common complaint among sales managers is that they don't get enough cooperation from their employees. You have to realize that you need to give before you can expect to receive. If you want employees who will work with initiative, ingenuity, and enthusiasm, you have to make them feel good about their job and about themselves.